Color electrostatic copying apparatus

ABSTRACT

A color electrostatic copying apparatus comprising a rotatable and vertically movable optical device including a plurality of film carriers, a plurality of optical units and a plurality of copying paper holding units, these three groups of members being arranged in optically facing relationship; a light projector including a plurality of filters so arranged as to face said optical units and a plurality of light sources; developing and washing devices disposed at the lower part of the apparatus so as to face said copying paper holding units; and means for feeding a plurality of sheets of copying paper to said copying paper holding units and drawing out said sheets therefrom.

Matsumoto et al.

(4 1 May 14, I974 COLOR ELECTROSTATIC COPYING APPARATUS Inventors: Yushi Matsumoto, Tokyo; Tsuneo Tashiro, Kanagawa-ken, both of Japan Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co., Ltd., Kawasaki-shi, Japan Filed: Aug. 15, 1972 Appl. No.: 280,845

Assignee:

355/16, 355/72, 271/64, 27l/DlG. 9 Int. Cl 603g 15/011 Field of Search 355/4', 10, 16, 72; 96/].2;

271/64, DIG. 9

3,531,195 9/1970 Tamika ct al 355/4 3,130,655 4/1964 Meyer 61 al 355/4 3,091,160 5/l963 Crumrine et al.... 355/16 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 7/1969 Great Britain 355/72 Primary ExaminerRobert P. Greiner [57] ABSTRACT A color electrostatic copying apparatus comprising a rotatable and vertically movable optical device including a plurality of film carriers, a plurality of optical units and a plurality of copying paper holding units, these three groups of members being arranged in optically facing relationship; a light projector including a plurality of filters so arranged as to face said optical units and a plurality of light sources; developing and washing devices disposed at the lower part of the apparatus so as ,to face said copying paper holding units; and means for feeding a plurality of sheets of copying paper to said copying paper holding units and drawing out said sheets therefrom.

5 Claims, 29 Drawing Figures mmmm v 3.810.693

" saw more;

Pmmenm'l 4 m4 sum uzur zaf- Bis-10.693

PATENTEBHAY 1 4:914

w mv nwmmv PAIENTEBIUY 14 1314 PATENTEMY 14 I974 sum as. or 23 PATEME YMW sum near 23 AIENTEDIAY 14 I974 SHEET 0? or 23' IFIGQ8 PATENIEDIAYWBM I f I 3.810.693

saw 09 or 23 I i s w ATENTEDMAHM R I I I 3810.693 v sum 10 or 23 PMENTEMY 14 1914 SHEEI 12 0f 23 FIG. 14

PATENTmm m an I 3.810.693 SHEET 15.0F

FI GViT m'ENIEnm 141914 5,810,693

sum, 1a 0! 23 PATENTEMAY 14 m4 SHEET 190? 23 

1. A color electrostatic copying apparatus comprising a rotatable and vertically movable optical device including a plurality of color original carrier units, a plurality of optical units and a plurality of copying paper holding units, these three groups of units being arranged in optically facing relationship; at least one light projector including a plurality of filters and light source means disposed optically opposite to said color original carriers; a plurality of charging units provided in the travelling paths of the copying paper holding units vertically movable jointly with said optical device; a purality of developing units positioned at the lower part of the copying apparatus opposite to said copying paper holding units; a copying paper feeding and withdrawing device for conducting a developed sheet of paper to a sheet carrying device and supplying the copying paper holding units with a fresh blank sheet of paper; and a means for exchanging color originals automatically, wherein colour recording is effected by a required number of operating cycles including charging, exposure, and development with each color original, optical units and copying paper fixed in the prescribed positions.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the copying paper holding device comprises an exposure assembly including a holding frame member having a fixed frame, a movable frame and a holding frame bearing an exposure mask which are all arranged in upright position in the order mentioned, first and second links bridging both fixed and movable frames at the upper and lower parts thereof so as to permit said movable frame to make vertical movements, a plurality of springs stretched between said fixed and movable frames so as to urge the movable frame toward the fixed frame and compression springs stretched between the movable frame and holding frame bearing an exposure mask so as to urge the latter outward; and copying paper holding units positioned below said exposure assembly.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein each copying paper holding unit includes a back plate, frames with L-shaped cross section fitted to both sides of said back plate and a clamping plate disposed opposite to the inner wall of said back plate, thereby holding the copying paper between said clamping plate and the lower bent portions of said L-shaped frames.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the copying paper feeding and withdrawing device comprises a copying paper guide plate rotatable to vertical and horizontal positions and a position displaced through an angle of 45 degrees therefrom; a cam disposed below said guide plate to shift it stepwise to said three positions; a control device for adjusting thE operation of said cam; and a pair of rollers provided ahead of said guide plate to facilitate the advance and retraction of the copying paper.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1 which further comprises electronic photograph finishing device consisting of a tank filled with a finishing solution; a conveying device positioned above the finishing solution tank to conduct the copying paper in the horizontal direction; and a finishing solution coating roller device normally immersed in the finishing solution tank and, when the developed and washed copying paper is conveyed to a proper point on its path, moved up to said path to apply the finishing solution to the developed and washed surface of the copying paper. 